Herbert issues orders that include mask mandate, reduced gatherings

Last week, Gov. Gary Herbert issued a statewide mask mandate and other directives as part of emergency orders directing Utahns to limit social gatherings to their own households to combat the state’s current COVID-19 surge.

Herbert declared a state of emergence and issued concurrent executive and public health orders in conjunction with the Utah Department of Health. “We must do more, and we must do it now,” Herbert said. “This is about much more than just mandates. This is about personal responsibility.” The orders stay in effect until at least Nov. 23.

The governor’s orders include:

• A statewide mask mandate for all Utahns in public, where six feet of physical distancing is not possible, including all business venues. Businesses must promote mask usage and post signage to that effect and could be subject to fines for failing to do so.

• Limiting casual social gatherings to household-only.

• A two-week hold on all extracurricular activities, including athletic and intramural events, with the exception of intercollegiate athletics and practices, and games and the conclusion of ongoing high school sports championships.

• Mandatory weekly COVID-19 testing for all higher-education students in public and private institutions who either live on campus or attend in-person classes on campus.